The English Civil War happened from 1642 to 1651. It started because of a mix of political, religious, and social issues. Let’s break down the main reasons:

1. Political Disputes:

   • There were big arguments between King Charles I and Parliament about things like taxes and how to run the country.
   • Charles tried to rule without Parliament from 1629 to 1640. This time is called the "Personal Rule." It made the problems worse.
   • In 1641, the Triennial Act was passed. This law said that Parliament had to be called at least once every three years. This law caused even more tension.

2. Religious Conflict:

   • In 1637, King Charles ordered the Book of Common Prayer to be used in Scotland. This led to the Bishops' Wars and weakened his power.
   • The Puritans wanted to change the Church of England. Their desire for reform created divisions in society and raised tensions with royalist supporters of the Church.

3. Economic Factors:

   • To pay for wars and run the country properly, heavy taxes were imposed. This made a lot of people unhappy.
   • By 1645, Parliament managed to raise about $4 million through taxes and loans to support the war.

4. Social Strain:

   • Different social classes were starting to clash, and the growing power of the gentry was challenging the king's traditional authority.

All of these reasons were connected and led to the start of the Civil War in August 1642. There were many important battles, and one major turning point was the Battle of Naseby in 1645.